European Chemicals Agency Updates Environmental Newsletter

On 20 December, the European Council announced that they have reached an agreement on a proposal to regulate ESG ratings providers, bringing the providers under the authorization of European markets regulator ESMA, with new rules to increase transparency into the methodologies and models used by the providers, and to address the risk of conflicts of interest. In early 2021, ESMA…

On 19 December, the EU Environmental Council agreed its position regarding the draft Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. In its press release, the Council informs on the cornerstones of its adopted position as follows - no explicit reference has been made to medical technologies: Packaging and packaging waste: Council adopts its negotiating position on new rules for more sustainable packaging…

The EU lawmakers have reached a provisional agreement on the EU’s proposed corporate sustainability due diligence directive (CSDDD), outlining rules for companies requiring large businesses to assess and address adverse human rights and environmental impacts in their value chains. The agreement follows the release of a proposed CSDDD directive by the European Commission in February 2022, and sets out obligations for…

The European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) have finalized their recommendations for changes to the rules about disclosing information on sustainable finance. These rules, part of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), aim to make financial markets more transparent regarding sustainability risks and impacts. The ESAs proposed several updates, including new requirements for reporting on social issues like exposure to tobacco production…

Lawmakers in the European Parliament and Council have announced that they reached a provisional agreement on proposed regulations for a new “Ecodesign” framework to establish sustainability requirements for nearly all products across the EU, and to improve information to consumers about products’ environmental sustainability. The agreement follows an initial proposal by the European Commission in March 2022 to set rules to improve…

The European Union has developed regulatory framework for chemicals to ensure a high level of protection of human health and the environment from the harmful effects of chemicals. Although the chemical legislations deliver the intended results and is fit for purpose, there are shortcomings in the consistency of safety assessments, the efficiency of the underlying technical and scientific work, and…